My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 201

Why use such an ominous metaphor...? How can I answer without making a mistake...?

"Uh... it's nice to meet you...?"

"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Ah... Asuhain-kun, you're also starting as a student council member today?"

"Yes. I am in charge of general affairs."

"Is that so... I'm the Party Secretary, and from today onwards, I'll be asking for your guidance—"

"that's all?"

"what?"

What else can we say?

Asuha-in's cute face suddenly turned unhappy, and she moved even closer to me. Wait... her chest! Her chest is about to touch!

"I'm Asuhain! You should remember me now, right? Asuhain, who ranked third in the entire grade in both the midterm and final exams last semester!"

"Wow, third place! You're amazing!"

"How dare the people who hold first and second place say such a thing?!"

"Yaaaaaaah!"

She suddenly grabbed my shoulders and shook me violently back and forth!

"Are you implying you don't respect me?! Have you ever considered how I've been overshadowed by you two siblings, studying so hard to one day surpass you in exams! And you say you didn't even see my name? Is that what you mean?!"

Oh, right. She said she ranked third, so her name is below mine and Shuidou's.

I'm sorry, I must admit, but I've only been paying attention to my own ranking and the ranking of the water fight...

"Well...it seems like I was in the wrong...?"

"I'm not asking you to apologize! I just want to see you standing in front of the rankings, trembling with regret!"

The word "competitive" might not be enough to describe this girl.

Asahi-no-Yuan was still holding my shoulders, staring intently at my face with wide eyes.

"...In this student council, I will also aim for the presidency. I will oust you and become the presidency. That way, you will have no choice but to remember my name."

"Ah, um, it's alright, I've already remembered. You're Asuhain-kun, right?"

"Please don't remember this so easily!"

What do you want from me?

I never expected to be in the same grade as such a domineering girl. Compared to Xiaoyue, she has a different kind of domineering presence.

After letting out a long sigh, Ye Yuan let go of my shoulder and turned to look around.

"By the way, isn't the other Irito-san coming?"

"Hmm, Mizuto—uh, it seems my brother didn't get an invitation from the student council."

"I see... Hmph, come to think of it, I heard he got a girlfriend. Someone who only thinks about romance can't possibly be chosen as a student council member who values ​​honor."

I kept a smile and remained silent.

Needless to say, the president of the student council, as a leader, is also preoccupied with romance and even seduced another member of the student council. I think it's best not to say such things.

On another note, the news about Mizuto and Higashigoto has really spread. Although Meijiro-in had been following our news unilaterally for a while, it still surprised me that she knew about it, even though we don't have direct contact…

"...Huh? Oh right, Asuha-in-san."

"What's up?"

"What's your name? I'm so sorry, I don't remember..."

Upon hearing my question, Tomorrow Ye's expression suddenly darkened, and he looked away diagonally downwards.

"...My name is..."

Irito Yui ◆ Scheming, Sunny, and Off-Skin Senior

"Oh! Isn't this Ran?! You've already arrived!"

Hearing the sound, I turned around and saw a long-haired girl happily walking into the classroom.

The girl is quite tall, but her hairstyle is a combination of long hair and double ponytails, which makes her look a bit childish.

The backpack slung over her shoulder was also covered with keychains featuring cartoon characters. To be frank, this combination seems a bit like a clever trick at first glance.

The ribbon on her chest is green. She's a second-year student.

The senior student with childlike taste ran towards Asuhain-san and hugged her petite body tightly like a doll.

"You're here so early—you were so eager to see me, weren't you?"

"I'm just used to starting things fifteen minutes early. Please let me go, senior."

"Hmm—even his aloof attitude is super cute!"

"Not cute at all."

With a blank expression, Asahi-no-Yuan forcefully pulled his senior off him.

Although my senior seemed reluctant to part, she flashed a friendly smile as soon as she saw me.

"You must be Irito-senpai, right? Suzuri told me—I heard you're a super honor student?"

"No, no, no! Far from it!"

And, Suzuri? Is she referring to President Kurenai?

"Hehe, meeting Rinri's standards is quite impressive, so feel free to be as cocky as you want... Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Asou Aisa! I'm a second-year student! And I'm the vice president starting today! Nice to meet you, junior!"

Senior Sister Ya Shuang, as if she wanted me to emulate her, put on a smug face and spoke with her head held high.

Perhaps because I often hang out with Xiaoyue, who always overreacts to girls' bust sizes, I now unconsciously notice the figures of girls I meet for the first time... And I must say, Senior Yashuang's figure is quite impressive. Small waist, small hips, a standard model's figure, but her breasts are even larger than mine, high and firm—

--Hmm? Strange?

...Am I just imagining things? Something just doesn't seem right...

"Have you and Ran greeted each other? For some reason, she seems to see you as a rival, Irito-senpai. Did she offend you in any way?"

"No...no, no. It's nothing, um."

"You said 'it's nothing,' which means she really did something, right? I just can't do anything with you. But I'll forgive you because you're so cute."

Senior Asahi hugged Asuhain to her chest again. Asuhain no longer resisted, but simply ignored her expressionlessly.

Judging from this, just as I was invited in by President Kurenai, Asahi-no-Yuan must have been invited in by Senior Asahi. I wonder if I could ask her how she joined the student council? I remember she wasn't a member of the executive committee, and Senior Asahi called her by her first name, so the two of them seemed quite familiar.

By the way, speaking of this...

"Your name... is 'Ran', Asuhain-kun."

"...Yes, you could say that."

For some reason, Asahina's expression was rather gloomy. Just now, she seemed reluctant to say her name either. I wonder what's wrong?

"Asuhain, Ran... What a cool name. Surnames with 'in' in them make you feel a bit longing for them."

"Ah—I get it, I get it. It seems like they're really rich, right—"

"...Please don't use my full name."

Asahi-no-Yuan said this in a sullen tone.

"I don't like my full name. When I introduce myself, I only use my surname."

"Why?...Is it too abrupt to ask that?"

Tomorrow, Ye Yuan lowered his head, paused for a moment, and then said:

"When I was in elementary school... some boys called me 'promiscuous' and made fun of me. They just combined the last character of my surname with my given name."

Ah...

I can imagine. Probably in the upper grades of elementary school. Kids at that age love to misuse sexually suggestive terms they see in dictionaries or comics.

Asahi-no-inu began to tremble in Asahi-senpai's arms.

"At first I didn't understand what it meant, but after looking it up in the dictionary, I was shocked... Why are boys always so stupid? They repeat the same thing over and over again like parrots, never getting tired of it...! There's no way to communicate with those creatures! They should be locked up in cages like in a zoo!"

Asuha-in seemed to have a lot of pent-up resentment, waving her little fist and saying:

"But when everyone grows up, the girls around us start getting boyfriends...! I really don't understand what's so great about dating! Why would anyone willingly hang out with a bunch of parrots! I might as well just get a real parrot! Don't you guys think so?!"

Asahi-no-Yuan's aggressive attitude intimidated me so much that I dared not utter a single objection. However, Asahi-senpai, who was holding her in her arms, was all smiles and very happy.

"There are such comments, yet such breasts! Super cute, right? -- Unicorn (Note: VTuber terminology, referring to fans who cannot accept female VTubers interacting with men) gives her a high score!"

I couldn't understand what she was saying, so I just gave her a smile.

Irito Yui ◆ Private Rakuro High School Student Council Executive Department

"Hi, everyone's here."

In stark contrast to the noisy Asuhain students, the student council president, Kurenai Rin, calmly walked into the student council room.

Despite her petite stature, she still exuded an undeniable presence, which naturally invigorated me... Similarly, a boy with unfashionable glasses—Senior Haba Takeji—was still the same as before, seemingly hiding in her shadow before appearing.

"Hello, Rinri. And Ah-Zhang too. I already flirted with my junior!"

"Yes. Esa, I always admire your approachability."

"Riri, you're too serious. You should learn to be flexible like me—right? Joe-kun thinks so too, doesn't he?"

"........."

Without saying a word, senior student Yuba walked to the conference table and put down his backpack.

"Hmm—" Senior Sister Ya Shuang pouted dramatically and said:

"How long are you going to keep being wary of me?"

"Hmph. I suggest you ask yourself that question."

"Riri Suzumiya, how long are you going to hold a grudge?"

"I don't hold a grudge. I just remember a girl once using my own name as a self-reference."

"How dare a girl who calls herself a 'young man' say that—"

This was the first time I'd ever seen someone be so direct, even towards the student council president. I can't quite put my finger on it, but their conversation seemed to offer a glimpse into the years that had passed, the years that had accumulated in this student council room.

I can't keep up with this conversation right now; it feels like it has nothing to do with me.

...But the thought that a year from now, I might be talking about similar things with everyone fills me with a sense of disbelief...

"Um, that!"

While I was in a daze, Asahi Yeyuan broke free from Asahi's embrace and stood nervously in front of President Hong.

"My surname is... Asahi Ye-in. I was fortunate enough to become a member of the student council thanks to the recommendation of Senior Asahi. I still have much to learn, and I hope you will continue to guide me in the future—"

"Nice to meet you, Asahi-no-in-class."

President Kurenai gently took Asuhain's hand, looked into her eyes, and smiled at her.

Faced with the president's beautiful and charming smile, Asahi Yeyuan blushed and was speechless.

"If there's anything I need to improve on, it's me too. When I make a mistake, I hope you'll point it out and correct me. Conversely, when you make a mistake, I'll do everything I can to help you."

"Ah, yes, okay..."

Asahi-no-Yuan was now completely stiff, turning into a puppet that could only nod incessantly. Asahi-senpai, seeing this, muttered to herself in disbelief, "Sigh—that playboy is here again—"

(Illustration 006)

Asahi-no-in-classmate just said she wanted to compete with me... but in the end, it seems she admires President Kurenai just like me.

After the president released Asuhain's hand, he turned his eyes to me.

"Thank you so much, Ms. Yui, for accepting my invitation."

"No... I joined of my own volition. I hope you will guide me in the future."

After I successfully greeted them, I saw Asahi-no-Yuan glaring at me with a frustrated expression from outside the president's blind spot.

"Why does Senior call Irito by her first name...?"